Kelley-Drake

Erin Marie Kelley of Charlotte and Cody Garrett Drake of Charlotte exchanged vows in a double-ring ceremony Oct. 26, 2013, at 5:30 p.m. at River Landing, with the Rev. Russell G. Nanney officiating.

The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jim Bruce Kelley of Mount Olive, the granddaughter of Neil Edgar Pistorius and the late Helen Mary Wetz Pistorius of Decatur Ill., and the late V.A. and Alice Bowman Kelley of Greenville, Ill., and the stepgranddaughter of Eleanor Kemmerer Pistorius of Decatur, Ill.

The bride is a 2004 graduate of Southern Wayne High School, and a 2008 graduate of Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration. She is employed as a regional sales manager with the Dr Pepper Snapple Group.

The groom is the son of Caroline Cansler Drake of Charlotte

The groom is a 2005 graduate of Myers Park High School, Charlotte, N.C., and a 2009 graduate of the University of North Carolina at Wilmington with a Bachelor of Science degree in finance and economics. He is employed as national accounts-category manager with MillerCoors LLC.

The bride was escorted by her father and given in marriage by her parents.

She wore a strapless gown of ivory Alencon lace with an elongated bodice and a sweetheart neckline featuring a scalloped three tiered skirt and chapel length train designed by Tara Keely. It was accentuated with a crystal-embellished satin ribbon belt at the natural waist.

For her veil, the bride wore a single-tiered fingertip veil trimmed in satin and accented with scattered crystals.

The bride carried a bouquet of green hydrangeas, ivory roses, Picasso calla lilies, purple freesia and green hypericum berries. The stems were wrapped in ivory satin and lace from her mother’s wedding gown.

Kristina Kelley Joyner, sister of the bride, served as matron of honor, while Meredith Bean, College friend of the bride, was maid of honor.

Bridesmaids were Sarah Bumgarner, Lindsey Hassell and Jenny Westbrook, friends of the bride, and Carson Drake, sister of the groom.

Cindy Ezzell Bell, family friend of the bride, directed the wedding. Presiding at the register was Ashley Strickland, friend of the bride.

Vocalist was Jordan Sasser of Altanta Georgia, friend of the groom.

Violinist was Paige Vickory Barwick of Mount Olive, friend of the couple. Guitarist was Derek Fulton of Charlotte, cousin of the groom.

A dinner and dance reception at the River Landing Club House Grand Ballroom was hosted by the parents of the bride. Reception greeters were James Vickory and Elle Dubberly, friends of the bride.

After a wedding trip to Hawaii the couple resides in Charlotte, N.C.

A rehearsal dinner was held Oct. 25 at the Mad Boar Restaurant hosted by the mother of the groom and the bride and groom.

Events held before the wedding included a bridesmaids’ brunch Oct. 25, in Mount Olive at the home of the bride’s parents hosted by family and friends; a bridal shower Oct. 3 held in Charlotte hosted by Lindsey Hassell; a bachelorette weekend Sep. 13 through 15 in Charleston, S.C., hosted by Kristina Joyner; a bachelor weekend Sept. 13 through 15 hosted by the groomsmen; a pig picking and engagement party June 8 in Mount Olive hosted by family and friends at the home of Jay and Kristina Joyner; and an engagement party Aug. 21 hosted by friends in Charlotte.